System and apparatus for carrying life and other boats on ships and for launching same therefrom.



, H. HAWTHDRN. SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LIFE AND OTHER BOATS 0NSHIPS AND FOR LAUNGHING SAME THEREFROM.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1913. 1,084,630. Patented Jan.20,1914u 4SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l7 ran/v5 Y COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. HAWTHORN. SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR GA RRYING LIFE AND OTHER BOATS 0NSHI P S AND FOR LAUNOHING SAME THEREFROM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE30,1913.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

O W I H H H I I H H H I H H M HI MI I u COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHCOHWASHINGTOM D. B.

H. HAWTHORN.

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LIFE AND OTHER BOATS 0N SHIPS AND FORLAUNGHING SAME THBREPROM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-30, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

2 i 5 I h M WWI/5525255 Afr/e040 Murnmenr flI/MMWJ Arra M E) COLUMBIAPLANQGRAPH (IO-.WASHINOTON. Dv c.

H. HAWTHORN. SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LIFE AND OTHER BOATS ONSHIPS AND FOR LAUNGHING SAME THBREFROM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COUWASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD HAWTHORN, OF SHEENI-IURST, EAST SHEEN, ENGLAND;

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LIFE AND OTHER BOATS ON SHIPS AND FORLAUNCHING SAME THEREFROM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,621.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD HAWTHORN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Sheenhurst, East Sheen, Surrey,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in andRelating to Systems and Apparatus for Carrying Life and other Boats onShips and for Launching Same Therefrom, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object a system of carrying and stowing boatson ships so as to take up a minimum area of deck space and to effect thelaunching of same in such a manner that every boat may be launched fromeither side of the ship by means of suitable apparatus placed at thesafest and most convenient height above the water line.

. Hitherto the usual system of carrying and stowing life and other boatson ships has been by distributing them over a .,boatdeck, some underdavits and others adjacent thereto, each boat occupying its own separatearea of boat-deck, and consequently on this boat-deck being usually theuppermost one on the ship, it is, especially on very large vessels,situated at a great height above the water line and entails aconsiderable amount of risk and danger'when launching the boats underany but the most favorable conditions.

Now according to this invention the life and other boats are assembledin one or more boat docks, in which they are carried on suitable cradlesand arranged one above the other in such a manner that when required forlaunching each boat is easily and quickly delivered on the launchingdeck, preferably one of the lower decks, where it is readily hooked upby suitable launching apparatus for launching over either side of theship or if weather and other conditions are favorable both. sides of theship can be used at the same time for launching purposes. In one way ofcarrying out this invention one or more of these boat docks are builtinto the ship extending vertically from the launching deck upward to therequired height and downward to the ships bottom, according to thecapacity required. Within the boat docks hoisting gear is provided fromwhich the boats are suspended each boat arranged on a cradle, whichcradles are connected together in the boat deck by readily detachableshort lengths of chain. 7

At the level of the launching deck openings are provided on oppositesides of the boat docks through which the boats can be brought onto thelaunching deck preparatory to. lowering. In launching, the boats in theboat deck are lowered until the lowest boat rests on the launching deck,its connec t1on with the cradle above are then cast off and the boat ispulled out on rails on to the launching deck. The falls are nowconnected to the stem and stern of the boat and the gear holding theboat on its cradle cast off when the boat is ready for lowering.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheets of illustrativedrawings in which Figure 1 is a transverse section of a ship showing adouble boat deck and launching gear for the same, Figs. 2 and 3 arelongitudinal section and part plan respectively of the same. Figs. 4 and5 are side and end detail views showing the boat suspension gear andFigs. 6 and 7 are similar views showing a modified construction ofthesame.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

Fig; 8 is a detail view of a screw coupling.

As seen in Figs. 1 to 5 I construct one or more caissons or boat-docks apreferably builton the center line of the ship and of such area as toaccommodate a life or other boat 6, these docks being placed fore andaft of'the ship and of such height as to contain as many boats arrangedone above the other as may be safe and expedient. This boat dock isconstructed to pass uninterrupted from the level of the launching deck 0through all other decks, and where means to hoist the boats up 'to thelevel of the launching deck are provided, the boat dock is continueduninterruptedly below the level of the launching deck as far down towardthe bottom of the ship as may be required. At the launching deck levelsuitable openings and doors a are provided on either side of the boatdocks so as to give egress and access for the boats on to the launchingdecks on either side.

Each boat I) completely equipped and ready for launching rests onsuitable blocks forming part ofa cradle b on which it is carried andfirmly secured by fastenings in such a manner as to be quickly andreadily cast off when necessary. The cradle consists preferably of twoor more blocks arranged at a convenient distance apart and serving aschocks in which the boat is placed and these blocks may be connectedtogether by no some suitable frame-work or tie-bars or other means so asto form a connected whole but capable of being readily disjointed andseparated for removal if necessary after the boat is launched.

At or near the ends of the blocks forming the cradle small wheels 6 aremounted and are so arranged as to press against the sides of the boatdock wherethey are free to rotate as the cradle and its boat is hoistedor lowered in the boat dock, they are also arranged to bear and carrythe weight of the cradle and boat when lowered on to the launching deck0 and so form a carriage on which the boat is easily run out of theboatdock on to the launching deck and under the hooks of the launchingapparatus.

The cradles carrying their respective boats are suspended in the boatdock one above the other by short lengths of chain Z2 which can readilybe connected to the cradle above, each cradle and its boat being quiteclear of the one above it, and in such a manner that when a cradle andits boat reaches the launching deck its weight is transferred to thewheels Won the cradle blocks. The chains 6 can then be quickly andreadily detached or removed so as to allow of the boat being run out toeither side of the ship through the openings provided for that purposein the sides of the boat-docks.

Within the boat dock a pair of hydraulic rams (Z are arranged, theirupper ends being connected by cross bars d from which the boats andtheir cradles are suspended by their chains 5 When boats are carriedbelow the level of the launching deck a vertically slidable framework eor other apparatus is provided for carrying the cradles, so that onreaching the launching deck they may be readily run out on to the deck 0and under the launching hooks. This framework 6 is raised by connectingit to the cross bars d by suitable lengths of chain.

The sides and ends of the caissons or boat-docks are provided withsuitable guides or channel irons a up and, down which the wheels 6 onthe ends of the boats and the wheels 6 attached to the cradles canfreely move but so arranged that no side or end play is possible inorder that the cradles and their respective boats may be firmly held inposition.

The launching deck 0 is placed at the most convenient and safest heightabove the water line and all the boats in the caissons or boat-docks arelowered to it in the case of those suspended above its level and arehoisted to it in the case of those carried below its level.

The launching apparatusconsists of two beams or girders f arranged at aconvenient height above the launching deck 0 and mounted parallel to oneanother and horizontally across the ship, and are placed at each side ofthe boat dock running from it out to the sides of the ship. They are sodesigned that as the boats come out of the boat dock the beams aresituated right over the lifting links attached to the stems and sternsof the boats and are mounted in such a manner that they are free toslide to and fro so that their outer ends may protrude over the sides ofthe ship when required to do so in order to safely launch the boatsclear of the sides of the ship.

Each beam f has mounted on it pulleys f and ropes for the purposes ofhoisting out of and lowering the boats into the sea and also elf and onto the launching deck. This tackle may either be fixed in a suitableposition on the sliding beam or carried by a trolley arranged to travelto and fro along its length.

Thebeams f are provided with the hydraulic rams f which move them in andout over the side of the ship and operate the hoisting and loweringapparatus and trolley carrying it, if such is used.

Rails 9 or other means are provided on the launching deck in order tofacilitate running the boats and their cradles out of the boat-docksunder the launching beamsff' and mechanical means may be employed toassist in hauling the boats and their cradles across the decks out ofthe boat-clock.

The levers controlling the system are preferably concentrated at controlstations conveniently placed near each boat-dock in such a manner thatonly one man is required to control all operations required fordelivering the boats on the launching deck and lowering them into thesea.

Two movable arms or lugs 71. are provided at the top of the boat docksfor the purpose of easing or relieving the rams ofthe weight of thecradles and their boats when at rest in the docks, such arms, being soarranged as to be readily and quickly brought out of the way bymechanical means such as a screw 72. and hand wheel 7& when the boatsare to be lowered to the launching deck.

In the modified arrangement of boat suspension gear shown in Figs. 6 and'7 the cradles carry short lengths of chain 12 with double links attheir ends which engage double hooks on the cradles above. F urthermorefor firmly securing the boats Within the boat docks right and left handcoupling screws 2' are provided at the stem and stern of the boats. Thecoupling screws 2' carry at one end, shackles 2" withrollers i whichembrace the guide rails a while at the other end the coupling screws aredetachably connected to the boats by'shackles 2' and bolts '5 adapted topass through the stem and stern thereof.

When it is required to launch the boats the doors a in the sides of theboat docks a are opened and the boat on its cradle which is already onthe level of the launching deck is run out to which ever side of theship it is wanted. Here the cradle may be temporarily secured to thedeck and theboat loaded with passengers, and the hoisting hookssuspended from the beams or girders f slipped into the hoisting links atthe stem and stern. All being ready the fastenings holding the boat onits cradle are cast off and the boat is hoisted off its cradle andrun-out board by means of the rams f connected with the beams or girdersf or by means of the trolleys arranged to travel along the beams afterthe latter have been moved out overboard and the boat lowered into thesea. As soon as the cradle is clear of its boat it is run out of the wayforward or aft or it may be separated into two or more portions and partpassed forward and part aft so as to clear the road for the next boat.The first boat being clear of the boat dock, the next one above it is atonce lowered on to the launching deck, its means of suspension removed,and it is run over toward the side of the ship ready to be hoisted inits turn and lowered into the sea and so on until all the boatssuspended above the level of the launching deck have been dealt with,when any boats carried below its level may be hoisted and disposed of inthe same way.

It will be seen that electric hoisting and lowering gear may be used inplace of the hydraulic rams described in which case the cross-bars dwould be merged into a sub stantial framework having wire ropes as ameans of suspension, the said ropes being connected to electric hoistingmotors. The said framework is steadied by guides or wheels suitablymounted on it and made to slide and bear against suitable guidesarranged up and down the sides and ends of the caisson or boat-docks.The launching gearand beams and girders arranged to be projected overthe sides of the ship may also be manipulated by electric motors throughwire ropes or suitable mechanical apparatus in place of hydraulic rams.

Mechanism is provided so that in the event of necessity, hand-power maybe brought into use in place of electrical power or hydraulic powerusually employed as a stand-by for each separate operation.

I have described only one particular manner in which this system ofcarrying and launching boats may be carried out but I may vary or alterthe details thereof or add to or otherwise deal with the variousapparatus in order to more efficiently attain the objects of thisinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. In means forstoring and lowering life and other boats, the combination with a shiphaving a launching deck of a compartment adapted to hold boats andhaving an opening in the side thereof; a launching deck flush with thelower part of said opening; a plurality of cradles in said compartmentand adapted to hold life boats thereon; a lifting means in saidcompartment; and short easily detachable links suspending said cradlesone from the other and from the lifting means.

2. In means for storing and lowering life and other boats, thecombination with a ship having a launching deck of a compartment adaptedto hold boats and having an opening in the side thereof; a launchingdeck flush with thelower part of said opening; a plurality of cradles insaid compartment and adapted to hold life boats thereon; a lifting meansin said compartment; means suspending said cradles one from the otherand from the lifting means and wheels on said cradles extendingtransversely of the deck.

3. In means for storing and lowering life and other boats on ships, thecombination, with a ship having a launching deck, of a caisson extendingabove and below the launching deck and having openings at both sides atsaid deck; a lifting means at each end of the caisson; a cross-bar heldlongitudinally of the caisson by the lifting means; a plurality ofcradles one above the other at the ends of the caisson; short detachablelinks suspending said cradles one from the other and from the cross-bar;life boats on said cradles; wheels on said cradles, disposedtransversely of the ship for rolling the boat to near either sidethereof; slidable transverse beams carried above and parallel to thelaunching deck and disposed laterally from the ends of the caisson onopposite sides; means for projecting said beams over the side of theship; and a pulley on the outer end of each beam.

4. In means for storing and lowering life and other boats on ships, thecombination, with a ship having a launching deck, of a caisson extendingabove and below the launching deck and having openings at both sides atsaid deck; a lifting means at each end of the caisson; a cross-bar heldlongitudinally of the caisson by the lifting means; a plurality ofcradles one above the other at the ends of the caisson; short detachablelinks suspending said cradles one from the other and from the cross-bar;life boats on said cradles; wheels on said cradles, disposedtransversely of the ship for rolling the boat to near either sidethereof; slidable transverse beams carried above and parallel to thelaunching deck and disposed laterally from the ends of the caisson onopposite sides; means for projecting said beams over the side oftheship; a pulley on the outer end of each beam; vertical guide-rails atopposite ends of the caisson; and rollers mounted on the ends of thelife boats and engaging the guide-rails.

5. In means for storing life and other boats on, ships, the combinationWith a ship having a launching deck a suitable height above the aterline and a plurality of decks above and below the launching deck; of acaisson substantially at the center line of the ship, extending aboveand below the launching deck through a plurality of decks and providedWith openings toward the sides of the ship, at the launching deck; ahydraulic ram at each end of the caisson; cross-bars extending from oneram to the other and adapted to be lifted thereby; a plurality ofcradles one above the other at each end of the caisson; short, easilydetachable links suspending one cradle from the cradle just above andfrom the cross-bars; boats carried on the cradles; Wheels on saidcradles and disposed transversely of the boat, whereby the cradles andboats thereon may be rolled from the caisson toward either side of theship; vertical guide-rails at opposite ends of the caissons; rollersmounted on the boats and engaging the guide rails; transverse slidablebeams carried at the ceiling of the launching deckand extendinglaterally from the ends of the caissons; means for projecting said beamsover the side of the ship; and a pulley on the outer ends of said beamsfor lowering the boats.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

HAROLD HAWTHORN. Witnesses:

VVALTER (homes,

0. J. WORTH.

copiel 01' this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentl,

- Washington, D. 0.

